Wilder Townhouse

The Wilder Townhouse

Located on Adelaide Road in Dublin, The Wilder Townhouse has recently opened, offering stylish comfort and character to guests. Originally founded as a ‘Home for Retired Governesses,’ the stunning, red brick building has been beautifully restored by main contractors Ardsbeg Construction and architects Grainne Weber. Together, they have managed to retain much of the building’s period charm, while enhancing and adding to its appeal with modern touches and stunning, bespoke fittings.

Speaking to Premier Hospitality Magazine about the project, Ardsbeg Construction Director Ryan Ecock said: “Work began in November 2017. We started with a beautiful, but run-down, 19th century Victorian building – a bit of a diamond in the rough. With much of the fabric of the building under conservation, we worked closely with the architect and conservation architect to preserve what could be preserved and there was a lot of work to be done in terms of upgrading Fire, DAC, Sound and Thermal insulation regulations. Upgrading these aspects was always going to be tricky in a building under conservation, but this is something we specialise in at Ardsbeg.

“The building had to be gutted so the conservation work was an interesting challenge because there were so many beautiful, original features that the client and design team wanted to retain. We added an extension to the back of the building, giving a feeling of ‘old meets new,’ which adds to the existing charm of the building. Two thirds of the project was under conservation so the new-build section really brought it all together. Both aspects complement each other perfectly and the transition between the old and new parts of the building is seamless.”

The Wilder Townhouse consists of 42 bedrooms and a beautifully designed resident’s restaurant, dining and bar area. Six of the bedrooms are located in the new section of the building, where Architect Grainne Webber wanted the design to be in keeping with the character of the hotel. This was achieved by reusing and repurposing features such as the original 19th century fireplaces and weaving modern amenities like en-suites and air-conditioning into every room.

Ryan added: “As a boutique hotel, almost every room has its own design, its own characteristics and even its own name. The rooms vary in size and type ranging from ‘shoebox’ to ‘suite.’ We have to credit Grainne Weber with creating a design template that ensured each room met the needs and expectations of both the business and leisure guest, whilst successfully merging 19th Century architecture and design with the modern Art-Deco style of the Townhouse. There are different colour schemes throughout the rooms and each bathroom was finished with its own unique, intricate mosaic and or marble flooring.”

The bedrooms are simple, compact and each includes a double bed. They are ideal for short city breaks, business trips or solo excursions. Both the small and popular bedrooms contain a comfy king size bed to guarantee a good night’s sleep – ideal for a long weekend away. Each bedroom in The Wilder Townhouse is fitted with marble mosaic bathrooms with walk-in rainforest shower and Replica by Maison Margiela Paris products.

All four suites at The Wilder are named after famous Governesses from history; The Lady Jane Suite, the Miss Wade Suite, the Miss Sharp Suite and the Lady Audley. Each suite is unique in design and layout, but they do all contain original floor-to-ceiling French-polished walnut wall panelling and marble fireplaces, complemented by elegant velvet ottomans, crystal chandeliers and leather wingback chairs.

Dining at The Wilder Townhouse is exclusive for hotel guests with overnight guests given the option to include a delicious a la carte cooked breakfast created by head chef Geln Beskhurst and an extensive cold buffet breakfast each morning. The Wilder Townhouse also has an art-deco inspired ‘The Gin and Tea Rooms’ which contains elegant French glass lights, smoked parquet floor and velvet sofas.

“The feedback has been great,” said Ryan. “I think this is the only project where when we have taken hoarding off, people have stopped to ask what the building is or where it has come from. Originally it was surrounded by trees and bushes so when it all came down and we opened it up, people were stopping to say how gorgeous it was. The neighbours were also in awe of it. In terms of feedback from the hotel, from what I have seen it has been received extremely well.”

Staying at The Wilder Townhouse, guests are instantly transported to a sophisticated, chic, modern haven steeped in history, almost hidden within the leafy suburbs of Dublin 2.

Ryan added: “This project in particular meant a lot to Ardsbeg. It is certainly one of the most exciting projects we have taken on being both unique and rewarding. It has ticked a lot of boxes – it has got new build, old build and conservation work elements. It’s a gorgeous, boutique hotel that we are proud to have our names associated with.”

Directors Ryan Ecock and John Cannon head up the Ardsbeg team, one which is full to the brim with experienced tradespeople, design specialists and construction industry professionals.

Ardsbeg Construction has an extensive portfolio of conservation, construction and turnkey fit-out projects. They have recently completed 112 rooms and added a stunning, bespoke entrance to The Mespil Hotel. Other clients include The Osprey Hotel, Tulfarris Golf and Spa Resort, Dundrum House (Tipperary), Sligo Park Hotel and Celbridge Manor.

“We have combined our passion and experience in all aspects of the construction industry to be an integral part of a project from beginning to end. We aim to deliver a top end, turnkey fitout. Having such a talented group of people on our team allows us to do this; we work closely with the client and design team every step of the way. We handpick the best suppliers and subcontractors in the industry and we oversee every minute detail on our projects to ensure absolute satisfaction on all sides when it comes to handing over the finished product.

“A lot of our business is ‘repeat business’ or comes through positive referrals from happy customers. This is a source of great pride at Ardsbeg Construction, and every day we strive to maintain and improve upon our reputation. Our team is also extremely important to us – we have remained a close-knit bunch as we have grown over the last few years. From our demolition guys to our design team, Site Managers and Surveyors, our team is dedicated to providing an excellent product.”

Who We Are:
Ardsbeg Construction is made up of a team of professional and experienced individuals with a common goal; to use their attention to detail and skill to create unique and inspirational spaces and end users to enjoy. Our team is client-focused and dedicated to workmanship of the highest standard.

What We Do:
We do it all! We work closely with the client and design team from the beginning of a project, and provide a turn-key handover at the end. We take care of everything in between, from heavy, structural construction works to highly detailed interior design. We deliver fast-paced, bespoke fitouts to the highest standard, on time and within budget.

Our Process:
Our team adapt the process to suit the needs of each client and each individual project. However, our emphasis on safety, quality and delivery remains consistent. Detailed Construction programmes, BOQs and Design Procurement are just some of the processes we’ll undertake long before our team step on site. Our Quantity Surveyors and Site Managers work closely with the client, design team and suppliers throughout the project duration.

Our Experience:
We have brought together a team of talented professionals with many years of experience between them across all aspects of the Construction Industry. From our demolition experts to our office administrators, we use our combined experience to find a solution to every problem. We have a wealth of experience in Conservation, Restoration and Renovation, and have completed some of our most successful fitout projects in hotels that remained operational throughout.

Rathgael

In their own words…

Established in 1994, Rathgael are manufacturers of Bespoke Soft Furnishings. At Rathgael all our products are manufactured to the highest quality in our modern 5,000 sq.ft. factory.

We are a highly motivated team with specialists in design and specification, highly competent estimators and surveyors, a skilled curtain and blind make-up team along with upholsterers in our modern workroom. We have fully trained installation technicians backed up by a highly organised administration team and sound financial support.

Our projects, which include Hotels, Bars and Nightclubs, Restaurants, Nursing Homes, Community Centres and indeed Private Home projects are undertaken in a very professional manner, irrespective of size and value. They are treated with equal importance and we ensure that projects are completed to an exceptional standard, within budget and to an agreed timeline.

We have over 20 years’ experience in the commercial soft furnishings field providing a complete service, encompassing surveying, supplying fabric, manufacturing and installation. All goods are manufactured in-house, which enables us to maintain complete control over quality and deadlines.